Maintenance Records & Resale
#1
If you are a potential buyer, how important are the maintenance records to you? If I have all of my maintenance records, which include all oil changes at 3k intervals, all of the scheduled maintenance done at a reputable dealership, is my truck more attractive to a potential buyer? Can I put a value on that? In other words, all else being equal, would you pay a premium for an identical truck with all the records vs. one without? If so, how much more....1%, 2%...5%.....? Just curious what everyone here thinks.....
#5
What if there was a transferable warranty that could possibly be affected if you didn't have that paper trail?
I had this argument with my buddy...he seemed to think that having those records would make his truck worth more, while I thought it would only marginally help....seems like you guys think it really means nothing in the long run.
For me, I woudn't make a stipulation that I need to see receipts for all the work done on the truck in order to consider buying it, but I think a seller might be able to justify (ever so slightly) a higher premium if they can show that the truck has been taken care of....especially the higher mile trucks.
Maybe I'm crazy, but if you start getting up there in miles, wouldn't that paperwork make you feel better as a buyer?
I had this argument with my buddy...he seemed to think that having those records would make his truck worth more, while I thought it would only marginally help....seems like you guys think it really means nothing in the long run.
For me, I woudn't make a stipulation that I need to see receipts for all the work done on the truck in order to consider buying it, but I think a seller might be able to justify (ever so slightly) a higher premium if they can show that the truck has been taken care of....especially the higher mile trucks.
Maybe I'm crazy, but if you start getting up there in miles, wouldn't that paperwork make you feel better as a buyer?
#7
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Joined: Jun 2005
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If you are a potential buyer, how important are the maintenance records to you? If I have all of my maintenance records, which include all oil changes at 3k intervals, all of the scheduled maintenance done at a reputable dealership, is my truck more attractive to a potential buyer? Can I put a value on that? In other words, all else being equal, would you pay a premium for an identical truck with all the records vs. one without? If so, how much more....1%, 2%...5%.....? Just curious what everyone here thinks.....

Just to put it in perspective, the dealer wouldn't pay a nickel more on trade (ACV)....because it had regular maintenance isn't anything special.
#8
I think some of that depends on the mileage.
If I was buying a 2010 Diesel with 30k on it with no maintenance records I wouldn't care that much.
If I was buying a 1999 F350 Diesel with 195k on it the maintenance records would be important to me.
I personally keep EVERYTHING. I have all fuel receipts with mileage and date written on them, all oil change receipts, and I even keep the tops of the oil filter boxes with the mileage and date written on them. I hope it makes the next owner feel comfortable, and it is basically no extra work for me. I have everything....
If I was buying a 2010 Diesel with 30k on it with no maintenance records I wouldn't care that much.
If I was buying a 1999 F350 Diesel with 195k on it the maintenance records would be important to me.
I personally keep EVERYTHING. I have all fuel receipts with mileage and date written on them, all oil change receipts, and I even keep the tops of the oil filter boxes with the mileage and date written on them. I hope it makes the next owner feel comfortable, and it is basically no extra work for me. I have everything....
#9
Chris, if you retail it yourself it might help, but other than that its just paper.
#10
Records are nice to have and if some of the parts are under a warranty it's a plus. If you know what your looking at or have a good tech look it over you can tell if it was taken care of or beat to death. Car fax is only good if the shop that worked on it reported it. The best is to run the VIN. at the dealer, most lemons were from day one and the dealer list everything, plus if it has a bunch of recalls that are not done on it there is a good chance it didn't get all the service work it should have also.



